Peach Tree Named &#39;UFGem&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘UFGem’ is a new and distinct variety of peach tree that has an estimated winter chilling requirement of 175 chill units. The tree is of large size and is highly vigorous with a semi-upright growth habit. Flowers are showy and pink and leaf glands are small and reniform. Trees are self-fertile and regularly bear heavy annual crops of early-season fruit, which are large for its ripening season. Fruit are firm, yellow, and non-melting, clingstone flesh. Fruit are uniform, substantially symmetrical in shape, attractive, and have a bright red skin over nearly 100% of the deep yellow ground color. The fruit usually ripens 5 to 7 days after ‘UFSun’ in early May in Gainesville, Fla.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Prunus persica (L.) Batsch

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘UFGem’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach(Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) tree named ‘UFGem’. Particularly, thepresent invention relates to a peach tree that produces a highpercentage of red skin with an attractive deep yellow ground color onthe fruit. The fruit has good eating quality with clingstone andnon-melting, yellow flesh. Fruit are mature for fresh market in early tomid-May in Gainesville, Fla. Fruit are produced on a tree adapted to amild winter climate. Contrast is made to ‘UFSun’ peach (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 14,764) for reliable description. This new variety ‘UFGem’ is apromising candidate for commercial success in that it retains fruitfirmness from its non-melting flesh at the full-flavor, tree-ripe stagefor a week on the tree.

This peach tree (genotype) originated in a cultivated area of the fruitbreeding program at the University of Florida, located in Gainesville,Fla. The seed parent was ‘FlordaBese’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,294). Thepollen parent was AP99-20c peach, which resulted from a cross ofFla.94-40wc×‘Springbaby’ (unpatented). Fla.94-40wc resulted from a crossof ‘Improved Diamante’ (unpatented)×‘Snowflame’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,251). ‘UFGem’ was determined to have unique tree and fruitcharacteristics, making it worthy for commercial fresh fruit production.‘UFGem’ peach tree was selected in 2006, and was designated and testedas Fla. 06-08c. It was asexually reproduced by budding on ‘Flordaguard’(unpatented) seedling rootstock in Gainesville, where the selection wasmade and trees were also tested. Asexually propagated plants remainedtrue to type. There are no known effects of this rootstock on this scioncultivar.

‘UFGem’ differs from ‘UFSun’ by having fruit of a higher percentage ofred skin and ripening one week later. ‘UFGem’ has larger fruit size andmore red in the skin than ‘UFSun’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety of peach tree bears yellow, non-meltingflesh fruit with a high percentage of red skin. ‘UFGem’ peach treeblooms about 3 to 5 days after ‘UFSun’ peach in Gainesville, thus theestimated endodormancy requirement is 175 chill units. ‘UFGem’ peachtree is characterized by fruit of excellent flavor and eating quality.The trees are vigorous, productive, and without alternate bearing. Treesattained a height of 2.5 meters and a spread of 2 meters in 2 years inGainesville. Terminal growth of up to 1 meter annually is common onmature 4-year-old trees with normal pruning to a vase shape. The firstfruit ripen in early to mid-May in Gainesville, or in about 80 to 85days from full bloom. The fruit are uniformly large for an early seasonpeach. The skin on ripe fruit has near 100% red over a yellow groundcolor. There is no red pigment in the flesh at the pit. The floweranthers are light yellow, a common characteristic of many peachcultivars. Flower petals are pink and showy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing is a color photograph that shows a typicalspecimen of the fruit, leaf, and stem of the new variety as nearly trueas it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of thistype.

FIG. 1—Shows an attractive shape and exterior coloration of sixspecimens of fruit above a ruler in a stem-end view, a blossom-end view,side views facing and perpendicular to the suture, and fruits cutlongitudinally showing the flesh with and without a pit in place.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The tree, flowers, and fruit may vary in slight detail due to variationsin soil type, cultural practices, and climatic condition. The potentialfor commercial production of fresh fruit by peach tree ‘UFGem’ is high,due to its attractive red skin over a bright yellow ground color, withgood flavor balance of sugar and acid, and exceptional firmness due toits non-melting flesh. The present botanical description is that of thevariety as grown on 4-year-old trees on ‘Flordaguard’ rootstock underthe ecological conditions prevailing in Gainesville, Fla. Variations ofthe usual magnitude to changes in climatic growing conditions, soils,fertilization, pruning, irrigation, and pest control are to be expected.Colors (except those in common terms) are described from “The PantoneBook of Color” published by H. N. Abrams, Inc., N.Y. 1990.

Phenotypic Description of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch ‘UFGem’

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.        -   Common name.—Peach.-   Parentage: ‘UFGem’ is a peach tree cross between seed parent    ‘FlordaBest’ and pollen parent AP99-20c peach. AP99-20c resulted    from a cross of Fla.94-40wc×‘Springbaby’. Fla.94-40wc resulted from    a cross of ‘Improved Diamante’×‘Snowflame’.-   Tree:    -   -   Size.—Large, when trained to an open vase form.        -   Tree growth (height).—5-7 feet for the first growing season            in the field; annual growth of 3-5 feet.        -   Tree growth (spread).—4-6 feet in the first growing season            in the field.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous; must be pruned in the summer and winter to            keep tree height restricted and to keep center of open vase            form. Tree responds typically to irrigation and            fertilization.        -   Density.—Light to medium in branching habit, but requires            pruning to open the tree center to permit high sunlight            entrance for enhancing interior flower bud set, fruit color,            and sugar.        -   Form.—Semi-upright.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to typical north central            Florida winters. Chill units for endodormancy are estimated            at 175 chill units.        -   Bearer.—Annual and without alternate bearing, and must be            fruit-thinned to avoid limb breakage and obtain large fruit            size. Trees annually set several times the number of fruit            for a desired crop load.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Large trunk, attaining 18-cm diameter at a height of            30 cm above the ground at the end of 4 years of growth.        -   Texture.—Medium smooth, but changes to medium shaggy as tree            ages.        -   Bark color.—Variable with other bark colors; mostly gray,            Flint Gray (Pantone 16-5803).        -   Lenticels.—Moderate number (18 per 4 square inches of            surface area of the trunk), large (4-10 mm) with the center            closed.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Strong growth of scaffold branches. This is not            distinctive of the variety.        -   Texture.—Relatively smooth, medium amount of lenticels            attaining size found on trunk and old scaffolds. Roughness            increases with age.        -   Color.—New wood is light green, Sweet Pea (Pantone 15-0531);            Old wood is more brown, Copper Brown (Pantone 18-1336).        -   Crotch angle.—Angles selected at 50-80 degrees in the first            year of tree training. Natural angles are within the normal            range of standard varieties for a semi-upright tree.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Length.—15-18 cm, including the petiole.        -   Width.—3.1-4.4 cm in mid-shoot on vigorous, upright summer            growth.        -   L/W ratio.—Between 4.3 and 5.8.        -   Thickness.—Regular and average for peach varieties; not            distinctive of the variety.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate with an acuminate tip.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Serrulate.        -   Surface.—Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface: Medium to            large veins that are pinnately netted.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Slightly darker green than lower;            Avocado (Pantone 18-0430). Lower surface: Green; Mosstone            (Pantone 14-0525).        -   Petiole.—Length: Average 9.5 mm. Width: Average 2.0 mm            diameter. Color: Light green, Sweet Pea (Pantone 15-031) on            young full-sized leaves of spring.-   Flowers and flower buds:    -   -   Type.—Showy, variable in size based on location and season,            but within the range of commercial varieties.        -   Diameter.—Averaged 36 mm.        -   Blooming period.—3-5 days after ‘UFSun’ peach; average            January 22-27 in Gainesville, occurring over a 7-10 day            period, dependent on ambient temperature.        -   Flower bud size.—Length: Averages 2.5 mm in late summer.        -   Flower bud shape.—Plump, conic.        -   Color.—Brown, Copper Brown (Pantone 18-1336) in late summer.        -   Fertility.—Self-fertile.        -   Flower petals.—Number: 5. Length: 18 mm average. Width: 13            mm average. Shape: Obovate, edges vary from smooth to            slightly undulate. Surface: Glabrous.        -   Color.—Pink, Almond Blossom (Pantone 13-2006). Margin:            Smooth.        -   Sepal.—Number (per flower): 5. Surface: Pubescent.        -   Calyx.—Cup: Medium large (5 mm diameter at the top, and 5 mm            depth).        -   Pedicel.—Number: 5. Length: 5-8 mm, not distinguishing for            the variety.        -   Stamen.—Length: 9-16 mm. Number: 35-45.        -   Anther.—Color: Yellow, Golden Cream (Pantone 13-0939) at            flower opening. Pollen: Abundant and light yellow, Lemon            Drop (Pantone 12-0736).        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 per flower. Surface: Pubescent. Length:            15-17 mm, from tip of stigma to base of ovary. Color: Shape            and color are within the range of standard commercial            varieties; Light green, Celery Green (Pantone 12-0532).        -   Blossom period.—Average January 22-27 in Gainesville, Fla.            over a 7-10 day period, depending on ambient temperature.        -   Fragrance.—Not noticeable as is normal for most peach            varieties.-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity when described.—Tree ripe, Apr. 19, 2013 in            Gainesville, Fla. Date of first picking: Apr. 19, 2013 in            Gainesville. Date of last picking: Apr. 30, 2013 in            Gainesville.        -   Size.—Uniform, medium to large; large size for early season            maturity at 140 to 160 g; Size varies with crop load, soil            type, and availability of soil moisture.        -   Diameter.—63 mm average.        -   Length.—60 mm average.        -   Longitudinal section form.—Slightly squat.        -   Transverse section through diameter.—Round; apex is slightly            recessed.        -   Suture.—Inconspicuous in color and slightly depressed.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 7-9 mm. Width: 3-4 mm. Color: Green, Endive            (Pantone 13-0632).        -   Ventral surface.—Rounded.        -   Apex.—Slightly recessed.        -   Crater at pedicel.—Flaring circular; stem depressing on base            of fruit. Crater depth is 6-10 mm, breadth is 22 mm at top,            and 3 mm at pedicel attachment.-   Skin:    -   -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.        -   Thickness.—Medium, not a distinguishable feature.        -   Texture.—Smooth and tender, similar to that of ‘UFSun’            peach.        -   Color.—Dark red, Baked Apple (Pantone 18-1648) to Raspberry            Wine (Pantone 18-1741) over 90-100% of the skin at harvest.        -   Ground color.—Deep yellow, Sunset Gold (Pantone 13-0940).        -   Pubescence.—Short to medium; soft to touch.        -   Flavor.—No astringency observed.-   Flesh:    -   -   Ripening consistency.—Consistently within each fruit, and in            general throughout the tree.        -   Fibers.—Very fine, small, and tender throughout the flesh.        -   Juice.—Abundant.        -   Color.—Deep Yellow, Amber Yellow (Pantone 13-0942) with a            small amount of red, Hot Coral (Pantone 17-1656) on the sun            exposed side of the fruit, especially under dry, hot            conditions. There is no red at the pit.        -   Texture.—Firm, fine, juicy, non-melting when fully ripe.        -   Aroma.—Moderate and in the middle range of commercial peach            varieties.        -   Eating quality.—Excellent, sweet, and slightly acid;            Titratable acidity was 0.88 as percent malic acid.        -   Penetrometer firmness.—1.4 kg on average, at harvest with a            standard 8-mm tip.        -   Sucrose content (average Brix).—Near 12.        -   Oxidation (browning).—Not noticeable on bruised fruit or in            flesh of cut fruit upon several hours of exposure to air in            tree ripe fruit beginning to soften.        -   Amygdalin.—Undetected.-   Stone:    -   -   Type.—Clingstone; adhering to flesh even at softening.        -   Shape.—Elliptic with an acuminate tip and acute base.        -   Sides.—Near equal.        -   Size.—Medium to small. Length: 30 mm average. Average            diameter at the equator perpendicular to the suture: 25 mm.            Average thickness at the equator across (facing) the suture:            18 mm. Average wall thickness at the equator perpendicular            to suture: 5-6 mm.        -   Color.—Light Brown, Beige (Pantone 14-1118).        -   Outer surface.—Furrowed along the ventral edge and lightly            pitted from the apex toward the base.        -   Ridges.—2 ridges noticeable at the suture line from base to            apex.        -   Tendency to split.—None observed.        -   Kernal.—Shape: Oval. Width: 9 mm average. Length: 16 mm            average. Flavor: Bitter (amygdalin is abundant). Color:            Light brown, Buckskin (Pantone 16-1342) with darker brown            stripes, Topaz (Pantone 16-1150) when first removed from            fully ripe, fresh fruit.        -   Viability.—Germinates best with embryo culture.-   Use: Fresh; dessert.-   Resistance to disease: High resistance to bacterial spot incited by    Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni. Resistance to other fruit and tree    diseases are within the range for commercial peach cultivars in    Florida. No unusual resistance or susceptibility or insects and    diseases noted.-   Keeping quality: Excellent after 2 weeks at 7° C. and with minimal    bruises or scarring appearing on skin.-   Shipping quality: Degree of firmness at harvest and firmness    retained in refrigeration for 2 weeks at 7° C. with no internal    breakdown of flesh or appreciable loss of eating quality indicates    fruit should be highly acceptable for shipping.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of peach tree asillustrated and described herein.